Parents may worry about the inevitable day of when their child asks if they can get a pet. Though the thought of an animal sharing your home may seem daunting, owning a pet is actually an excellent opportunity for your kids to build a strong connection with a living thing while learning valuable lessons about responsibility. Plus, you can start small and build your way up!

Jumping right into pet ownership with a dog or cat may be a little too much. Between walks, clean up, and house training, larger pets can feel like caretaker overload, especially for young kids in their first pet experience. Consider a lower maintenance critter if you're thinking about making a new addition to the family for the first time. You'll be amazed at how these little creatures can teach big lessons!

Turtles

200 million years of evolution have molded the turtle into being both green and cute, a feat rarely repeated in the animal kingdom. These adorable amphibians require only 4-5 feedings a week of store-bought turtle food, with the occasional cricket or meal worm for an extra dash of protein.

Maintaining a fun and clean environment for your turtle is most essential to keep it living a happy life. Their tanks only require cleaning every few weeks with regular monitoring of water levels and temperatures.

Hamster

These little fuzzballs offer a more interactive pet option, since they'll want to get out of the cage occasionally to do some scurrying around. Hamsters are relatively easy to care for. Your child will need to make sure that beside providing basics like food and water, they'll regularly need to clean out the hamster’s cage and bedding.

Iguana

These cold-blooded creatures definitely have a certain charm to them and can be a great first pet for kids. They'll learn about the diet and lifestyle of reptiles while being the owner of the coolest looking pet on the block.

Understanding how to maintain a proper habitat and feeding them the right food is essential to taking care of these lizards. Iguanas are herbivores, meaning they mostly eat plants, so it’ll be up to your child to make sure their pet gets plenty of fresh leafy greens and fruits .

Tarantula

Hear us out on this one. Tarantulas are quiet, clean, take up very little space and can live for up to 25 years! They're not the most cuddly critters on this list, but statistically speaking they're far less dangerous than cats or dogs. They rarely bite unless seriously threatened and their venom is less harmful then that of a bee or wasp.

Like the iguana, this is one of the more unique pets your child could have. Talk about show and tell gold! There are over 800 species of tarantulas out there, so you're kids will need to know the specifics about their tarantula breed regarding habitat and diet.

Guinea Pig

These small mammals have been pet favorites for 400 years. They're calm and docile while still being playful and fun. They'll even greet their favorite people with a chirp when they walk in the room.

They require a warm environment with daily feedings of fruits and veggies. Keeping their cage clean and giving them regular baths are essential for Guinea Pig health and happiness.

Fish

For the true first-time pet owners, it's hard to go wrong with a fish. They don't require any special attention and there's pretty much no chance of an escape. Just regular feedings and clean water is enough to keep these guys happy.

Fish are a great option if you want to get your kid used to daily care of an animal while teaching them the importance of personal responsibility.